Being Mission-Focused—one of the recommended leadership development competencies—include:

• Purpose-driven leadership.
• Having a clear sense of the mission of the congregation and keeping the congregation focused on that mission.
• Having a clear sense of one’s own mission or call.

Core Values

We are obligated to use our resources to help build the Beloved Community. Although we have a sense of responsibility and commitment to the stewardship of the institutional aspects of the church, we understand that its purpose is greater than the church itself.

Practices

• Develop and reflect on one's own sense of call.
• Use the congregation's mission as a touch-stone while doing the work of the church.

Resources

Videos

• What is Your Congregation's Mission? (YouTube, 1:47)
• The Missional Church: Simple (YouTube, 2:00)
• Creating a Shared Vision (YouTube, 5:38) Gordon Graham

Web Articles

• Vision, Mission and Covenant (PDF, 98 pages): Creating a Future Together (Unitarian Universalist Association booklet)
• Is your strategic plan gathering dust? by Jim Ladoux
• The Church as Wikipedia by Landon Whittsitt (chapter 2 of his book Open Source Church)
• The Liberal Church Finding Its Mission: It’s Not About You by the Rev. Peter C. Boullata
• The Missional Church and Unitarian Universalism by PeaceBang
• Who Owns a Congregation? by Dan Hotchkiss
• What is the Mission of Misisons? by Dan Hotchkiss
• What Can We Expect? Accountability and Volunteers by Susan Beaumont
• Congregational Mission Planning by Sharon Pearson
• Do You Know Your Purpose? (PDF) by Margaret J. Marcuson
• The Importance of Outcomes by Gil Rendle, Susan Beaumont
• What The Hell is Wrong with… Mission and Vision Statements? by Bernard Marr
• Planning a Ministry Focus from Your Ministry Area Profile (PDF)

Podcasts

• Visionary Shared Leadership is the Key by the Rev. Dr. Tom Chulak
• Practically Speaking by Andy Stanley A Series of 7 informal discussions among North Point staff showing how to focus on core values and ministry practices.

On-Demand Webinars

• Mission! Mission! Mission! Rev. Phil Lund
• Got Purpose? Mission and Your Congregation (42:21) Mark Bernstein
• Moving from Mission to Action (54:38) Rev. Renee Ruchotzke
• Living Your Purpose I: Core Values and Mission (54:54) 2014 GA Workshop
• Living Your Purpose II: Aspirational Values and Vision (1:15:40) 2014 GA Presentation
• Living Your Purpose III: Making It Stick (1:14:59) 2014 GA Workshop

Books

• The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else by Patrick Lencioni
• The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations by Ori Brafman
• The Growing Church: Keys to Congregational Vitality Thom Belote, ed.
• Missional Renaissance: Changing the Scorecard for the Church by Reggie McNeal
• The Purpose Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message & Mission by Rick Warren
• Not Your Parents' Offering Plate: A New Vision for Financial Stewardship by J. Clif Christopher